RuneDeer
Senior Forumite
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated.
Posts: 2,937
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Post by RuneDeer on Jun 4, 2012 18:22:11 GMT -5
I have a couple of old phones (one from '03, the other from '08). Neither is remotely high-tech. And neither was from the carrier I currently use.
What's the best way to get rid of them? I've considered donation, but they're so out of date by now, nobody would want them. And, I worry that even if I take out the SIM cards, there will still be information in the system, via the battery. I don't have the chargers anymore so I can't even turn them on to wipe 'em.
Smash with hammer? I have one, and it works...
Thanks, /r
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Bob
Global Moderator
Bird Geek
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Post by Bob on Jun 4, 2012 18:47:54 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure taking the sim card out will clear them.
You can donate them to "room at the inn" which is a home for battered women. They give the phones to women for the sole purpose of dialing 911.
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Post by Dragon Lady on Jun 4, 2012 22:09:25 GMT -5
Information, such as contacts and text messages or call logs are stored within the phone not usually the sim card. You can save a certain amount of contacts to the sim but removing the sim will not clear data. You would have to do a factory data reset to clean all information from the phone, or have it "flashed". Also, the fact that the battery is dead has nothing to do with the data within the phone. A person could charge it and have access to the information or put a new battery in and have access to the information.
If you did not clear out your information from the phone before they died and are concerned about your information getting out you need to take these phones to somewhere like Radio Shack and have them recycled. I say this because I was the store manager for Radio Shack for 4 years and I know the phones are sealed in plastic bags and sent to a 3rd party recycle plant that hooks the phones to a machine that removes ALL information then they are reprogrammed for use in battered women's shelters unless damaged then they recycle them accordingly. But they make sure your personal information is not leaked out of that phone. Very secure. I do know that places like Best Buy also take phones like that, and I can only assume their process is the same, but I would check that out for sure first.
If you can get your hands on a universal battery charger or a replacement power cord and get the phones turned on I can walk you though a factory data reset before the phones are donated so you are SURE your information is completely out of the phones.
Hope that helps.
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Bob
Global Moderator
Bird Geek
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Post by Bob on Jun 5, 2012 5:26:43 GMT -5
Good to know, thanks!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2012 7:38:08 GMT -5
I second Bob's motion. Thanks, DL.
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RuneDeer
Senior Forumite
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated.
Posts: 2,937
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Post by RuneDeer on Jun 5, 2012 19:35:32 GMT -5
Yes, DL, that's EXACTLY the information I was looking for. Thanks! Glad you're back on the CMF!!
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Post by Dragon Lady on Jun 5, 2012 22:10:44 GMT -5
Glad I could help. :-)
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RuneDeer
Senior Forumite
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated.
Posts: 2,937
|
Post by RuneDeer on Jun 9, 2012 11:02:12 GMT -5
An update: Radio Shack (at least the one near The Rave) does not take cell phones for donation; just a trade-in if you're buying from them. The public library at Eastgate also doesn't, though they recommended two places to try: Office Depot (no) and Eyear Optical (no). However, the emissions inspection station at Eastgate does; they've been taking them for awhile now. So if you need to unload old handsets, go there.
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